Testimonials
Some of or recent testimonials
I am still under the impression that there is nothing alive quite so beautiful as a horse.
— John Galsworthy.
Coaching In France
Helen Gale who organised the clinic and hosted it
at CPA Lathus Riding Centre said:-
Really enjoyed my lesson with Victoria Hayton yesterday, as did all of the other victims! Working on straightness, starting to see glimpses of a dressage horse emerging, I think!?
Clinic at Lathus
Amazing coaching session! Lots of homework to do. I look forward to seeing you in 3 months’ time! Xx
Excellent Safeguarding Training
May has proven to be an eventful month and has flown by. However, looking back, the highlight for me has been the excellent Safeguarding Training which you provided. The content, delivery, involvement off the participants was second to none. I took many notes and there are several comments that are firmly imprinted on my mind. “Every Child Matters” is the obvious one but it doesn’t end there. We all matter whoever we are.
I’ve come away from this training much better prepared to do my bit if necessary.
Big Thank You to Victoria Hayton
Super proud of these two this morning doing their first dressage test Connor was an absolute superstar, big thank you to Victoria Hayton for all your help ??
I cannot wait for our next session!
Yesterday we did something which still seems surreal, we boxed up and headed off to Pottofields Equestrian Centre to have a lesson. No, not exactly surreal that is it, BUT, it was to have a lesson with a coach who I not only admire greatly, but was instrumental in my career, and was the first dressage coach I ever had.
I last had a lesson with Vikki over 20yrs ago, when I lived in South Yorkshire, so when we moved South to Hampshire it was clearly not viable to continue, so that was that. Now, since moving north, I had to change my regions for British Dressage and low and behold, Vikki is the blooming chairman! Fate? Possibly. Anyway, I met Vikki briefly when I attended the Champs back at Xmas but it was so brief it was hardly noticeable. So, when I saw she was coaching at Pottofields I booked on, and Sunday was fabulous, over 20yrs has passed yet during my lesson it was like it was yesterday. Vikki’s style, understanding of horse and rider, empathy and knowledge are second to none, and when I say I loved every minute, we’ll that is an understatement!
Not only have I been reunited with my coach and friend, but the way Corrie went in the lesson was mind blowing, yes we are still building strength and we have ‘oh heck’ moments, but the progress made yesterday was superb, and always taught in a horse friendly manner, most important to me.
Today I played with what we did yesterday and like a lightbulb it was still switched on and Corrie gave me a fabulous feeling.
I cannot wait for our next session!
100 Percent Recommend These Dressage Camps with Vikki.
Everything is personalised and tailored to you and your horse so you can focus on what you want and need to get the most out of the two days.
Vikki’s coaching is excellent, and she is very encouraging and great fun as well.
There’s always a clear structure to what you do over the two days but it’s all very flexible so if you’re struggling with a particular issue there’s time to work on that and you come away feeling like you’ve made real progress.
Great facilities, immaculate yard, large and airy loose boxes, Fabulous food, the list goes on and on!
Thank You, We’re Loving Dressage
We got wet, we froze, it blew a gale but it was worth it.
Another fantastic lesson or 3 with Victoria Hayton! Thank you, we’re loving dressage and the improvements we’re making.
Had The Best Week
Had the best week – me and Luke had a 2 day dressage camp which was amazing – we learnt soooo much!
He was such a superstar 😉
Thank you Donna for taking the boy and Victoria Hayton for the brilliant lessons!
Can’t Recommend Her Enough
Vicky Hayton is and has helped me so much to develop my skill level and progress through the BHS levels and develop some formal education to back up my practical experience of working with horses. The lessons we have always leave me wanting to know more both in the class room and ridden.
Can’t recommend her enough if your thinking of setting yourself some equestrian learning/development goals.
Don’t hesitate. I have never been made to think any goal of mine is silly or unobtainable all we have done is work out a road map to help us work out how to achieve them very useful and supportive.
Keeps me coming back for more lessons as it’s quite addictive.
Thank You So Much for Today
Thank you so much for today, Charlotte has had the most amazing lessons and feels she has learnt so much. You’re an amazing instructor.
Amazing Days at Camp
Amazing 2 days at camp with Victoria Hayton!
Home from home for Louis 🙂
Had a fab time and learnt so much as always!
Thank you Vikki and Les for everything xx
Thank You
Thank you for the informative evening last night. Please pass my thanks on to Cherry too. It surely gave me food for thought! Looking in my diary I may struggle with the next one but will try to swap things round as it will be worth it.
I Have Greatly Enjoyed the Sessions and Found Them to Be Hugely Beneficial
This is a testimony regarding the coaching sessions with Vikki Hayton over the last six months.
Six months ago I was looking to polish the Advanced Medium work and also to improve scores at PSG and Inter 1, which are new levels for us as a combination and for me as a rider. In that timeframe, we have represented our region at the Senior Home International at Advanced Medium and placed 14th out of 32, and are currently busy preparing for the Petplan Finals at PSG and Inter 1. Our scores are starting to get more solid and have gradually improved at these two levels since Vikki’s intervention, which is very encouraging for hopefully a move up to Inter 2 in the next twelve months.
The profiling and goal setting has been really useful to maintain a clear focus over the time period in question, and I shall definitely be carrying out these exercises in the future in order to make use of the clear planning system that they offer. They helped me to structure my competition outings in an efficient and effective way in order to facilitate meeting the goals which were set, and also helped to focus on the critical issues away from the competition arena which are pivotal to success – such as scheduling training, physio, farrier and so on.
The ridden training sessions with Vikki have been really fantastic, she is a very kind, patient, calm and positive trainer, with a great ability to encourage the best from horse and rider. She makes good use of rider feedback and perception, and has the ability to translate this not only in to judge’s eye view but also provide achievable exercises which make really positive improvements. I feel very confident that our scores and performance can continue to improve under her guidance, but perhaps most importantly, this is all done in a way which the horse is very happy and confident with, and without undue pressure on or tension from the horse, which one can often find occurring in training sessions elsewhere.
Vikki would be an asset as a Coach and Mentor to any dressage rider’s support team!
Very Much Appreciated
A friend of mine said they saw Nic and Rak today competing and said how amazing Rak looked and balanced in her dressage – apart from Nicola’s lovely riding that is thanks to you for schooling and looking after her so well for all these many weeks – thank you so much for all you have done and taking good care of her.
I hope she wasn’t too moody and didn’t out stay her welcome and that you would have her again!
Thank you so much Vikki to you and your girls. Very much appreciated.
This Is Really Fantastic
I attended the have a go day today and thoroughly enjoyed it. Vicki helped me immensely. Please thank your BD Northern committee for such an amazing initiative. Vicki offered to be on the end of the ‘phone for any queries I may have and explained BD Northern are very helpful! This is really fantastic.
I rejoined BD today after a very long break and look forward to attending more training sessions in the future.
My Knowledge and Riding Ability Have Improved Hugely
I have been training with Vikki for two & a half years and my knowledge and riding ability have improved hugely.
During this time I have had a baby girl who is now a rather ‘independent’ toddler. Throughout Vikki has been extremely understanding and supportive, this has allowed me to continue riding whilst juggling family commitments.
I couldn’t have done it without her help and that of the other staff on the yard who often find themselves acting as babysitters!
College farm is a very friendly yard where there is always someone on hand to help, from expert advice on all aspects of horse care and riding to a friendly chat & chocolate biccie.
Through her teaching and personal generosity Vikki is helping me realise my ambition to progress through the levels in dressage (hopefully one day to the top!) and for that I can’t thank her enough.
Many Thanks
Many thanks for tonight’s DVD training session. It was really useful and informative.
I Find Our Training Sessions Enjoyable
I started training with Vikki earlier this year with a new horse. With her help & guidance we have qualified for the Regionals @ Prelim along with the Nationals via the Pet Plans.
I find our training sessions enjoyable & always interesting but importantly, I actually remember what we have worked on; I understand why we are working on it & always end with clear homework which I find essential when working alone.
Vikki is supportive, encouraging & has improved my confidence along with my understanding.
I never have any hesitation in recommending her to friends working with horses of any level.
Everyone Was Incredibly Friendly and Helpful
Our visit to College Farm for a two day intensive training course with Vikki for Roisin and Bailey.
As soon as we came into College Farm Yard, everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. The stable was ready for us and we all had everything we needed, including electricity for the box (and a cream egg as it was Easter!)
Roisin had 5 lessons over 2/12 days, 2 jumping and 3 flatwork sessions.
“Vikki’s teaching was very positive and effective in the short time we had available. My riding in both disciplines rose up a gear and the improvement was dramatic. Vikki’s helpful comments and teaching style will stick with me and ensure I achieve the goals I want for me and my horse”.
Roisin (19)
Thanks for everything.
The Whole Atmosphere at College Farm Is Friendly and Welcoming
If you want to have some focused, intensive dressage training, then a 2- day ‘individual camp’ with Vikki is hard to beat.
With two under my belt now and a third in the diary, I can really recommend them.
Vikki is a hugely experienced rider and coach. Oh, and a judge as well. She has a rare talent for coaching you as a rider, and you and your horse as a partnership- all at the same time!
After a general assessment and discussion about your goals for the two days, the sessions are tailored and productive. With two horses, both very different, I have come away with a much clearer idea of how to ride each to progress and develop.
The whole atmosphere at College Farm is friendly and welcoming. The facilities are super, and everything is on hand.
There is plenty of time to get ready and ask questions and then the sessions are very focused so you get results very quickly and take away lots of tips to recreate the progress at home.
As someone who already has excellent regular weekly lessons back home, going to College Farm builds on that and offers a different perspective, and an opportunity to focus on a small number of techniques to help raise your game in a supportive and positive environment.
My Horses Are Always in The Best of Hands
College Farm is a well-managed and professional yard with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
I have trained with Vikki Hayton for the past 7 years and she has, without a doubt, imparted to me an equestrian skill set and knowledge which is second to none, enabling me to pursue my life-long love of riding and, particularly, dressage. I can also rest assured that my horses are always in the best of hands, with Vikki’s fully-qualified staff providing excellent ‘hands-on’ support at all times.
My Level of Riding and My Horses Way of Going Has Dramatically Improved.
I started having lessons with Vikki Hayton in March 2012. Since that time my level of riding and my horses way of going has dramatically improved. Vikki’s style of instruction ensures that I fully understand what I am trying to achieve and more importantly why. This then allows me to continue progressing in between lessons.
The methods Vikki uses in training horses means the work for them is progressive and achievable, therefore building their confidence as they move up the grades. Due to Vikki’s experience as a BD judge, she has also been able to develop my understanding of what is needed in order to ride a successful dressage test. As a result of these changes, in both myself and my horses, I am now confident to progress onto medium level competitions next year.
In her role as a BHS examiner, Vikki has also helped me in achieving my BHS stage 3 and consequently by BHSAI. As I progress onto my stage 4 and intermediate instructors exam, she has once again proved invaluable as a mentor and trainer.
Vikki is without doubt one of the most experienced instructors I have ever had lessons from, and her supportive and friendly style of teaching ensures I always come away from lessons with a sense of confidence and motivation.